Shane did not fall in love with Ilya's because he is kind and caring. He fell in love with Ilya being a little shit. A massive shit, to be precise.
Don't get me wrong Shane loves that Ilya is such a loyal, devoted, sweet person. But that doesn't take away from Ilya's bold, brash and intense nature. Yes, part of it just an act to hide his true feelings. But mostly, Ilya just is like that. He teases and chirps and trashtalks, he's competitive and ambitious, he's pushy and sometimes a bit mean, he's a show-off, a fuckboy, a ragebaiter, and he does all this for the love of the game.
Shane knows all of this and he wouldn't want Ilya to be any other way. He loves it. He loves bickering with Ilya, he loves the challenge, he loves Ilya being an asshole, he loves how he can be himself with Ilya.
He's aware what a menace Ilya can be and doesn't shy away from it, he is delighted. Just think about the fond way he calls him an asshole or how he smiles at Ilya's chirps.
And because Shane does accept Ilya so entirely, because he knows when Ilya is being his cocksure self and when it is just a deflection, Shane has the privilege to see Ilya's vulnerable side as well (just like Svetlana does).
Their relationship and healing together doesn't change who they are fundamentally. Being complete and utterly in love and devoted to each other doesn't mean that they lose their edge or complexity as characters.
To be loved is to be seen, and Shane does see Ilya with all his multitudes. And Ilya is more than just the bad boy turned lover boy trope.
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